Order Paper Watch: NDP wants info on government money going to RackNine, RMG and Campaign Research

The ongoing robocalls controversy makes its first -- but likely not last -- appearance on the Order Paper today, courtesy of NDP MP Pat Martin, who has filed a series of questions that appear to have been inspired by the now semi-infamous 2010 photo posted to Facebook by RackNine CEO Matt Meier, in which he noted that "government does pay."

Not only does the Official Opposition want to know exactly how much the government has paid Meier and RackNine over the last five
years, and just what services were received in exchange
for the payment, but also whether any federal cash has gone to Responsive
Marketing Group and/or Campaign Research, and, if so, for what purpose.

So, will the government hand over the requested info? Check back in 45 days -- which, by my calculations, works out to mid-April -- to find out!

The full text of the NDP's questions:

Q-481 --
February 28, 2012 -- Mr. Martin (Winnipeg Centre) -- With regard to all
payments made by the government to RackNine Inc. and Matt Meier in the
last five years, has the government, including the Prime Minister's
Office, all government departments and agencies, minister's offices and
crown corporations, made such payments, and, if yes: (a) what was the
total amount paid in each of the last five years; (b) what was the
amount paid by each department, agency and crown corporation in each of
the last five years; and (c) for each payment, (i) who made the payment
(e.g., the Prime Minister's Office, a department or agency, a minister's
office, a crown corporation, etc.), (ii) on what date was the payment
made, (iii) what services were procured through the payment?

Q-482
-- February 28, 2012 -- Mr. Martin (Winnipeg Centre) -- With regard to all
payments made by the government to Responsive Marketing Group Inc. in
the last five years, has the government, including the Prime Minister's
Office, all government departments and agencies, minister's offices and
crown corporations, made such payments, and, if yes: (a) what was the
total amount paid in each the last five years; (b) what was the amount
paid by each department, agency and crown corporation in each of the
last five years; and (c) for each payment, (i) who made the payment
(e.g. the Prime Minister's Office, a department or agency, a minister's
office, a crown corporation, etc), (ii) on what date was the payment
made, (iii) what services were procured through the payment?

Q-483
-- February 28, 2012 -- Mr. Martin (Winnipeg Centre) -- With regard to all
payments made by the government to Campaign Research in the last five
years, has the government, including the Prime Minister's Office, all
government departments and agencies, minister's offices and crown
corporations, made such payments, and, if yes: (a) what was the total
amount paid in each of the last five years; (b) what was the amount paid
by each department, agency and crown corporation in each of the last
five years; and (c) for each payment, (i) who made the payment (e.g.,
the Prime Minister's Office, a department or agency, a minister's
office, a crown corporation, etc.), (ii) on what date was the payment
made, (iii) what services were procured through the payment?

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About the Author

Kady O'Malley has been covering the Hill for more than a decade (yes, really) for a variety of publications. An Ottawa girl (not quite born, but raised), she has a passion for politics that borders on the unhealthy, and has liveblogged her way through hundreds of committee meetings, press conferences, judicial inquiries, budget launches, cabinet shuffles, and even the odd constitutional crisis. Oh, and yes, her Boston Terrier really is named "BlackBerry."
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